Thursday, May 26, 2022

Goodbye My Sweet Baby Girl

2 hours before saying goodbye to Gracie for the last time, I sat watching her sleep peacefully in my office as I typed a goodbye letter to her.  She loved coming to the office to rest. My heart is so very broken.

 Goodbye Gracie.

How can I say goodbye?  To one I have loved and cared for over 17 years?  One who has required much of my attention and love.  One who loves me and watches for me and is my heart.  How can I say goodbye?  

You lay on the floor after finishing your fortune cookie, resting.  You look peaceful.  How can I say goodbye to one who is so peaceful?  How can I?

Will Jesus send angels to escort you into a heavenly realm – a place so beautiful and perfect that your soul will run swiftly to receive the love that awaits you there?  Will the first thing you notice be the way you can run, just as you did when you were a puppy?  Will you delight at the freedom and jump as high as the clouds as you frolic with the others who have gone on before you?  Will you remember me at all?  Or will you be left with just a small empty space that you cannot understand, one that will only be filled when I meet you there – in your place of peace. Your Heavenly home.  

How can I say goodbye?  How can I live without having you to take care of?  To worry after and to love.  To hold close and smell your sweetness right after you come back from your grooming.  How can I make dinner at night without tearing up, because there is no you peeking around the corner to check and make sure dinner will be on time.  How?  

But you will worry no more.  Those sores you lick and lick – causing me to worry so for you – they will be gone.  You won’t need anyone to hold you up to potty anymore.  The body of a perfect pup, you’ll have.  Oh my dear Gracie – how I love you so.  Our house is in disarray for your convenience.  There are rugs piled high and furniture pushed up against the bed to keep you from falling at night.   I suppose I will start putting things back in order once your gone.  I’ll likely cry a lot.  The truth is, I would take the inconvenience over losing you any day!!!!  

But there is only one thing worse than saying goodbye to you.  And that is watching as you are in distress at night at the bottom of the bed.  You circle around and around and around, unable to lift you butt to get comfortable.  I will pull myself down there and reposition you, only to have you struggling again.  I love it when you sleep soundly and peacefully all night.  But that is not happening much anymore.  When you head down the ramp, I jump into action and run to the living room to help you with whatever your need might be.  Last night you were pooping over and over again until you were only passing water.  I’d follow you around, crawling on my hands and knees to help hold your butt up.  You looked so embarrassed and humiliated.  So helpless and sad that you cannot do these things on your own.  

I will miss your puppy snuggles.  Even though you are seventeen, you were a love bug.  A furry, sweet love bug.  I will hold the thought of holding you close to my face and speaking my love into your ear – for the rest of my days.  I am not sure about anything but this.   I know God loves me and I love Him.  And I know He is good and all good things come from Him.  And I know there is life after this life..  eternal life with no more death or suffering.  I want to be a part of that.  With you.  And I truly believe it will be.  Because, God’s love is so awesome and so perfect and so wonderful. He would not take such a gem as you out of my life forever.  No, God would not do that.  

You lay still.  Resting.  It’s sweet, because the minute I stopped typing to get a quick picture of you, you raised your head and looked at me.  What a sweetheart.  God has been so good to me by bringing you into my life.  But you are His, really.  And I’m pretty sure He is calling you home.  It’s okay, sweet girl.  Rest easy.  Run free.  I’ll be back.  

My deepest love goes with you.


GRACIE PHILLIP
9.24.04 - 5.26.22
Rest Peacefully Sweet baby girl.



24 comments:

  1. I am so sorry to hear of the passing of sweet Gracie girl. My heart hurts for you. When my baby pup passed it hit very hard as it always does, but as I was cutting chicken up on the cutting board I looked over and she wasn't there to grab some scraps. I know your girl will find my girl and everyone else up in the heavens and run free and happy, ears flapping in the wind. May Gracie rest in peace.

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  2. Oh Bobbi!!! There just are no words. I have dreaded this day. I so much wish I could take your pain away. I am so very sorry. I had always hoped to meet Gracie one day. We can trust God to be there for Gracie in the most perfect way, knowing everything she needs more than even you knew. I wish I could hug you.

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  3. Oh Bobbi. I am so sorry. Gracie lived her dash very well and left a lasting loving legacy! She will always be with you in your heart. Take all the time you need to mourn her. She was your family for so many years!

    Beautiful letter written to her too.

    Again, I am so sorry!

    betty

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  4. Bobbi, I'm heartbroken to be reading this tonight. Now I can't stop my tears. I know this day was expected for a long time but it doesn't make it any easier at all. I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that you gave Gracie that one last gift of love but the hardest gift to give. My heart is with you and your family and I'm so sorry.

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  5. I will include Gracie in the May edition of 'Our Rainbow Friends'. If you have a favorite picture of Gracie, please email it to me before June 8:
    amber.daweenie@gmail.com
    If I don't hear from you, I will try and pull a photo from the blog. Again, I'm so sorry.

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about dear sweet Gracie. It's so very difficult to say goodbye but the love will remain in your heart forever. Love and hugs from all of us.

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  7. Bobbie I have such fond memories of Gracie from the moment Angel Madi and I met you and Gracie Both our precious girls were with us 17 years. Each year is full of sweet memories. My sympathy and understanding at your loss. I end this with my thoughts about Gracie using the letters of her name.

    Girly Girl
    Ready to be your friend always
    Amazing
    Cute, button nose
    Incredibly kind
    Eyes that could melt your heart

    Hugs Cecilia

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  8. I do not know you are Gracie and you do not know me. But I do know the pain you felt and feel now. My heart aches for your aching heart.

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  9. So sorry to hear you had to say goodbye to a beloved friend.
    17 years is a long time, but not long enough.
    Mum and I send you comforting purrs.
    Gracie was a sweetie.
    Purrs, Julie andthe mum

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  10. Seventeen years is a long life for a dog - and far too short a life. I know the anguish of having to choose between saying good-bye and watching one you love suffer. In the end, there is no choice, really, but there is always anguish. Godspeed, Gracie.

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  11. Farewell little one, your memories will be treasured forever.

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  12. I'm so very sorry for the loss of your sweet girl. Our hearts ache for you and for your family and friends♥

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  13. We are so sorry for the loss of Sweeet Gracie. Yes, whe is running free again - but she will never outrun your love and memories.

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  14. No more hurts for sweet Gracie. You gave her a wonderful life filled with love.

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  15. I'm so very sorry. No matter how long they're with us, it's never long enough. This is absolutely beautiful.

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  16. Hello it's Peaches and Paprika. We read your beautiful tribute and are inspired for your love for each other. thank you for sharing this love with us and for your beautifully spiritually worded goodbye. (For some reason, we can't post as we should even t hough we're signed in.)

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  17. I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful girl. XO

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  18. Oh the tears are flowing:( I have loved Gracie for a long time now. I will miss her. I wish I could give you a big hug. Gracie running around like when she was a puppy and will be telling all of her new friends in Heaven what great care you gave her. I am SO sorry:( Sending HUGS and extra PRAYERS your way!

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  19. We've followed you for years. My heart is heavy hearing the news about your beloved Gracie. I know your heart is shattered into a million pieces. Gracie girl, you were very much loved and still are. You will never be forgotten. Rest in the glories of Heaven sweetheart.
    Hugs,
    Kim

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  20. Aww...Fly Free beautiful Soul✨
    So sorry of the loss of your beloved girl Gracie. Soft Pawkisses to comfort you🐾😽💞

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  21. So sorry for the loss of your precious and sweet Gracie.
    Rest well, Gracie, soon you will be flying all over with a strong set of beautiful Angel Wings.

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  22. My heart is sad that you've lost your beloved friend Gracie. What a darling sweet one she was. How wonderful that you had so many years together but I know that doesn't make it a bit easier to let her go. She was a beautiful sweetheart.

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  23. This is Inger again. Your tributes are so beautiful. Sending love to you and your family. Inger

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